Bike tour “Romeinse Limesroute” (Part 1 – Leiden/Utrecht – 84 km)

Hello Bikers,the winter is over, so it’s the perfect time to take our bikes and spend a day out, enjoying the Dutch nature and a bit of culture.

This tour is a part of a longer route (220 km) from Katwijk, on the North Sea coast, to the German border at Millingen (passing through Leiden, Woerden, Utrecht, Arnhem and Nijmegen), that follows the Dutch section of the Limes – the border of the Roman Empire – which ran along the old River Rhine. In 2nd century AD – when the empire was at its greatest – the Limes ran from the North Sea at Katwijk along the rivers Rhine and Danube all the way to the Black Sea.Along the border Romans built twenty forts and a series of watch-towers (castella), interconnected by roads. Unfortunately, not many evidences remain, but we will see modern reconstructions and information boards (in Dutch).

Tour starts at Leiden Centraal Station and ends at Utrecht Centraal Station.Since tour ends at a different location, please bring your own bike on the train (supplement of €6.90 needed).In Rijnsburg we will use once a public ferry to the cross the Oude Rijn. I didn’t find any information about the cost of the ticket, so bring your OV-chipkaart to pay the ride.

We will have packed lunch somewhere on the way. Bring some sandwiches or your favourite food and enough water.

Last, but not least! Dutch weather is unpredictable, so in case of bad weather, the day before I will cancel this meetup.